Pay-More-For-Status-Quo Approach Short-Sighted, Limits Economic Vitality and Growth
QUEENS, NY – Borough President Melinda Katz stated the following about the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA’s) latest fare and toll increase proposals, which will be presented at a Public Hearing tonight at 6:00 p.m. at York College in Queens:

“It’s hard to justify any fare increase that isn’t coupled with some increase in service,” Borough President Katz said.  “This short-sighted pay-more-for-the-status-quo approach only serves to limit economic vitality and development.  Mass transit is the lifeblood for New Yorkers, and in a borough where many residents live in a so-called ‘transit desert’, we desperately need to expand bus service accessibility, especially express bus service.

“I commend the MTA for exercising fiscal discipline, but the fact is our borough’s mobility and growth depends on more affordable, reliable and efficient mass transit. We must prioritize finding more stable transit funding sources other than from the commuters’ pockets to balance the budget, stave off future hikes and restore funding for much-needed capital projects.”